Atlanta Falcons vs. Minnesota Vikings: Full game preview

November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn looks on against the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter at Levi

Why to watch

This is the toughest opponent the Atlanta Falcons have faced to date, in what is potentially the biggest game of the year. I wrote earlier in the week how the Falcons’ season could hinge on this result, which is what makes it so important.

A win would snap the three-game losing skid and put the Falcons at seven wins on the season. In the tight wild-card race, Dan Quinn’s team would stay in the driving seat. Victory would place Atlanta above Minnesota and earn a potentially crucial tiebreaker.

A loss and the slump continues, and it’s possible the Falcons drop out of the wild-card spots. If Tampa Bay beats Indianapolis and Atlanta loses, the Bucs will move into a wild-card spot. The Falcons once had a comfortable cushion, but the margin for error has hit zero.

With two games coming up with the undefeated Carolina Panthers, the Falcons need to start getting wins now. This game could ignite a final push towards the playoffs, or push the Falcons even deeper into trouble.

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